A crown witness who initially told the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court that he saw and heard the alleged speech made by defendant Tevita Fifita on television before November 16, changed his statement at the end.

Viliseni Vaka (51), a part time officer for the Territory Force division of the Tonga Defence Services and a full time taxi driver, was called as the Crown's sixth witness on March 4 in Day Three of the trial of six men accused of sedition.

The six accused are Paula Vi of Masilamea, Siosiua Uipi of Fatai, Tevita Fifita of Popua, Siale Fihaki of Nukunuku, Semisi Tapueluelu of Haveluloto and Sione Teisina Fuko of Ma'ufanga.

Fifita is particularly charged with one count of sedition in relation to a speech made on November 14 at Pangai Si'i.

In Vaka's evidence in chief, he recalled a speech made by the defendant on OBN television in a program from Pangai Si'i. And quoted a portion of what he said, "I am courageous man and I am not afraid of anything . . . a normal gun when shot would go but his gun when shot would pull on things.

The witness told the Crown Prosecutor 'Aminiasi Kefu he did not recall the exact date of the program when questioned, but he confirmed he watched it on TV in early November before the riots took place on the 16th.

He also identified the defendant in the courtroom whom he knew as a fisherman who sells fish close to where his taxi is based at Faua Wharf.

The witness added he was called by the TDS to assist in the events of November 16, and on the 17th, the next day, he saw the defendant again.

"I did not talk to him but I heard what was he said which confirmed what I heard previously heard on television," said the witness.

After November 16

The witness was then cross examined by counsel Mana Kaufusi who questioned him in relation to where and when he actually heard the alleged speech from, the TV program and was it before November 16 or on November 17 after the riots.

Mana put to the witness the alleged speech by Fifita was not said on TV, as he first gave evidence to, but rather he heard it after the 16/11 events, on November 17th.

He answered, yes, the reference of the speech to the gun was made after November 16.

The Crown Prosecutor in his re examination to clarify the issue asked the witness that he told the defence counsel the alleged speech made by the defendant was after November 16, did he mean the portion referring to the courageous man, the gun or both.

The witness answered what the accused said after November 16 on the 17th gave meaning to what he said before.

The Prosecutor again put to him, "so the alleged speech heard in reference to the courageous man and the gun you did not hear that on TV before November 16, but after."

The witness answered "yes. "

The Crown continued to call its witnesses throughout this week.